Key facts

Our whole trip went very smoothly, everything was perfect both in Uganda and Zanzibar. Well done Cox &amp Kings and many thanks !!Mr Zolotas

A Uganda travel guide

While Uganda is famously known for its gorilla population, something that should not be missed on a trip to this beautiful county, it also boasts stunning and diverse natural landscapes; home to a mixture of wildlife. This includes tree-climbing lions, chimpanzees and a variety of birdlife, including the shoe-billed stork. It’s also a wonderful place to experience rural village life, interacting with locals and understanding the rich cultures of the country.

Gorillas

The Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park, located in the south of the country, is home to some of the few remaining mountain gorillas in the world, who live in one of the oldest and most biologically diverse forests on Earth.

Seeing mountain gorillas ranks as one of the most incredible wildlife experiences in the world, especially as so few of these amazing creatures still exist in the wild.

Wildlife in Uganda

With 20 national parks and reserves, Uganda has some of the greatest diversity of wildlife and landscapes of any African country. The scenery varies from the dry savanna lands of Kidepo National Park in the north to the forests of Semliki, Kibale and Bwindi in the south. Queen Elizabeth National Park is home to elusive tree-climbing lions, while chimpanzees inhabit Kibale forest. Kidepo, Uganda’s most remote park, with its jagged hills, golden grasses, soft glowing light and plains strewn with wildlife, is perfect for those looking for a true wilderness experience. Wildlife in Kidepo is abundant, and lions, leopards, cheetahs, elephants, giraffes, zebras and large herds of buffalo can all be spotted.

Birdlife

Uganda is also home to rare shoe-billed storks, which can occasionally be spotted around Murchison Falls National Park, where the Nile rushes through a narrow cleft in the rock.

Local cultures

Situated at the geographical heart of the African continent, Uganda is a melting pot of cultures. Over 30 different indigenous languages are spoken and the country has a diverse mix of music, art and handicrafts. Driving through rural villages as you traverse the country, there will be opportunities to interact with the local people. These types of cultural experiences often become the most memorable travel experiences.

Kampala, the capital

The capital Kampala, sprawled across seven hills covered in shady trees and subsistence crops, has a more modern and cosmopolitan feel in the city centre itself. During a visit to the area you may like to visit the Kasubi Tombs and the National Museum or take a walk through the town for a glimpse of the extremes of wealth and poverty, characteristic of so much of Africa.

Key facts

Capital:

Kampala

Flying time from London:

15 hours

Time difference:

+3 GMT

Currency:

Uganda Shilling (UGX)

Official language(s):

English

Visa requirements:

Visa required for UK passport holders.

Our whole trip went very smoothly, everything was perfect both in Uganda and Zanzibar. Well done Cox &amp Kings and many thanks !!Mr Zolotas

Top things to do in Uganda

Meet the rare mountain gorilla

Trek to one of the gorilla groups in Bwindi National Park, where you can observe them at close quarters in what is truly an emotional experience.

Track chimps in Kibale Forest

In Kibale National Park, track habituated chimps, and then watch as they squabble and play in fruiting trees.

Spot lions in trees

Queen Elizabeth National Park is home to a pride of tree climbing lions that live in the area – one of only two lion populations in the world that climb trees.

See Murchison Falls

See the world’s most powerful waterfall at Murchison Falls, where the Nile is forced through a narrow gap in the rock before ferociously plunging down 43 meters.

Go bird watching

With over 1,000 recorded species of birds, Uganda is a birder’s paradise. Search for the iconic Shoebill, the standard-winged Nightjar and a number of other endemic species.